Wow.
might as well add surfboards to that list too
I can sort of understand powerboats/tinnies.
"Fourteen people have died on the water since July last year, including one commercial crewman - compared with two in each of the two preceding financial years.
Eight of those who died in recent months were not wearing lifejackets, a big concern for marine safety authorities and Water Police, especially when many of the incidents happened in rough ocean conditions.
Most of the fatalities were mature men and considered experienced boaters, with complacency or misreading weather conditions suggested as the probable reasons for their deaths."
But Kitesurfers/windsurfers/SUP really!?
How many of the 14 fall into these categories?
That must also mean that all of transperth ferries, Rottnest ferries, winery feriies etc.. must have their patrons wear life jackets.

Please take part of the 10min survey from the Department of Transport on this matter, it covers the Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and SUP Categories and I think it is important we cast our opinion as much as possible before it's too late.

app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?F3D7BBA3F6B5AEA7F1

On the second last page of the survey, there's a section to put your comments. You can openly express your thoughts and put forward objective reasons and examples to make the department understand we can not be put into the same box. I believe the regulation is already adequate (see table below) and does not need modification as far as Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and SUP go.

Other Useful Links:

Media Statement from the Government:
www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/05/Skippers-views-sought-on-changes-to-safety-equipment.aspx

Equipment Review Link:
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/safety-equipment-review.asp

and dont think its not possible that a couple of Officers wouldnt turn up at somewhere as remote as Gnaraloo and ping kiters and windsurfers as they came out of the water. they are happy to travel to all the remote places to prosecute policy.

Also, dont fall for the trap of copying and pasting a 'standard' statement into your submission, as Govt departments have been known to count all identically worded submissions as one submission.

Recommend ticking the "yes" box on the questionnaire so you can respond to questions like having to have an anchor on the Windsurfer/kitesurfer.

elmo said..
Recommend ticking the "yes" box on the questionnaire so you can respond to questions like having to have an anchor on the Windsurfer/kitesurfer.

I absolutely agree Elmo.
I was amazed at the wording of some of the questions asked once you tick the "yes" box.

Survey done. I hope I spelt "personal responsibility" and "domineering state governments" correctly.

Survey done comments added, it only takes about 15mins. I urge everyone to do the questionnaire and add your comments. Dumb it down as these people dont windsurf or understand windsurfing. Your apathy of not speaking up for yourself and thinking others will say it for you will result in a negative outcome for your windsurfing, make a choice, stand up for youself. Just do it !

Survey completed. Ticked yes a few times to comment on anchors, paddles, buckets etc. Final comment about recent deterioration in safety stats being related to boats, not windsurfers SUPs etc.

Sin said..
Please take part of the 10min survey from the Department of Transport on this matter, it covers the Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and SUP Categories and I think it is important we cast our opinion as much as possible before it's too late.

app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?F3D7BBA3F6B5AEA7F1

On the second last page of the survey, there's a section to put your comments. You can openly express your thoughts and put forward objective reasons and examples to make the department understand we can not be put into the same box. I believe the regulation is already adequate (see table below) and does not need modification as far as Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and SUP go.

Other Useful Links:

Media Statement from the Government:
www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/05/Skippers-views-sought-on-changes-to-safety-equipment.aspx

Equipment Review Link:
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/safety-equipment-review.asp

Mate,

Can you post this in the kitesurfing section, please, on my link with the Govt's press release? Methinks there may be a lot of chatter about this, and this if good info. Thanks.

Well I offered up answers to the survey, hard not to laugh at who must have written ideas that insist a windsurfer needs an anchor or fire exstinguisher...a good idea for a kiter maybe...
Still it needs an input to show how all windsurfers from anywhere would find the rules mainly useless and an outrage.SPEND THE TIME AND GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS PLEASE!

I completed the survey. I do not believe any further safety requirements are needed to be prescribed in addition to the current requirements insofar as windsurfers are concerned. I do have concerns over the requirements to use life jackets in the surfline but do note that there are only required within 400 m of the shore so practically unless we are heading out to an offshore reef (eg Whitfords..) or sailing offshore, a distance out, it is not going to be an issue. I believe the requirement to carry anchors, bilge pumps, fire buckets and fire extinguishers should not apply to windsurfers. I made my comments on these issues in the survey but did not refer to Whitfords or sailing offshore beyond 400m since I do not believe it wise to complicate the issue.

If paddle craft don't require a life jacket outside of 400m why should a windsurfer or kitesurfer?

Paddle Craft and Sailboards (Wind/Kite) both require to carry life jackets >400m
Only Sailboards require wearing >400m

Stuthepirate said..
Paddle Craft and Sailboards (Wind/Kite) both require to carry life jackets >400m
Only Sailboards require wearing >400m

Sorry Stu, you are absolutely correct. I did in any event, make the point and submission that lifejackets and anchors should not be required for a windsurfer for a number of reasons including the fact that when the sail falls in the water the board essentially stops and remains stationary in the water and the board itself is buoyant and acts as a "liferaft and life preserver" and the rider has a harness usually which is a buoyancy aid to an extent and is thus safer in this in this respect than most other craft. There are some limits on this type of submission, which I did not address but notably the fact, that a board can actually drift away from a rider in a big sea or strong wind particularly if you become separated from the board. Any thoughts on how to make a submission that would relax the requirement given the anomaly you have identified.

Yep, mine's in as well